Red Bulls Leave Points on the field vs. Real Salt Lake

The biggest change for the New York Red Bulls this season has been a change in the formation. After utilizing a 4-2-3-1 look the past two seasons, head coach Jesse Marsch has opted to use a 4-2-2-2 look in 2017. By adding an extra striker to the front line, Marsch hopes to give Bradley Wright-Phillips some extra support in the final offensive third of the pitch.

On loan from Red Bulls Salzberg this season, Fredrik Gulbrandsen has been tabbed as the man to play off of BWP. Both forwards were held off the scoresheet on Saturday, but there were signs that showed the new tandem could have a huge impact later on in the season. Gulbrandsen had six shots in the match, while Wright-Phillips fired off four.

“We have to get better at [playing in this new formation], just like we got better at it in our normal formation,” Wright-Phillips said. “It took us time and I think that will come soon. It’s only four games in.”

MSG Networks will air its first Red Bulls game this season Saturday with live coverage of the Red Bulls-Dynamo game from Houston. The Dynamo had a bye this week and suffered a 4-2 defeat to the Portland Timbers in their last match.

With head coach Jesse Marsch absent for two training sessions this week, the New York Red Bulls have turned to Chris Armas to lead things ahead of this weekend’s match against Real Salt Lake. It is an opportunity for Armas to show his coaching chops, as well as his personality. Absent due to a two-day coaching […]